Ski binding



c. 2G, w38.

Filed Dec. 17, 1935 M. S. .MERRILL SKI BINDING www 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Dec. 20, 193s.

M. s. MERRILL SKI BINDING Filed` Dec. 17, 1955L 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SKI BINDING Marcellus S. Merrill, Denver, Colo. Application December 17, 1935, Serial No. 54,802

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved ski binding of the adjustable type permitting displacement of the toe plates, to correspond to the different sizes and shapes of boots.

An object of this invention is to provide a practical and satisfactorily adjustable ski binding having attachment to the ski at only three points.

Repeated eiforts have been made to provide a ski binding having satisfactory adjustment to boots both as to size and shape. A binding, now in quite general use, comprises two toe plates independently mounted on the ski, each plate being provided with two slots, each slot adjustably engaging a clamping piece screwed to the Ski. In this structure no account is taken of the fact that, during `a series ofy adjustments, either slot moves in the arcof a circle with respect to the center of the screw in the clamping piece in the other slot; the result being that the clamping pieces, at certain points on said arc, will ride over the normal surface of the toe plate due to the fact that xed slots, whether curved or rectangular, cannot always correspond to the curvature of an arc with a variably positioned radius. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to avoid the above described difficulty by providing a ski binding having an adjustable attaching structure for the forward portion of each toe plate which adjustable attaching structure provides a roving center of curvature for the arcuate displacement of the rear part of each plate.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ski binding which will compensate for the longitudinal displacement of the toe plates caused by lateral adjustment.

These and other objects of my invention will become more apparent from the following description, reference being had to the ac-companying illustrative drawings in which:

Fig. l is a plan View of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is anl elevation of the same with cutaway portion showing clamping piece in position.

Fig. 3 is a sectionv taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan of a modication.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan of a second modication.

Fig. 'l is a section taken on the line '1 -I of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged detail illustrating the interengagement between the grooves toe plates' are fastened to the ski I5 by means of clamping pieces I6, and a binding plate I'I. Each toe plate is provided with a slot I8, the sides of which are corrugated as shown at I9, and inclined in such a manner that the slots are nar- 10 rower at the bottom of the toe plates than at the top.

The corrugated-edged clamping pieces I8 have openings which receive screws 20 which, when screwed into the ski I5, cause said corrugated, in- 15 clined edges to engage the corrugated sides I9 of the slots I8, and thereby hold the rear eX- tremities of the toe plates rmly against the ski The forward portion of each toe plate has grooves 2I adapted to engage teeth 22 of the binding plate I'I. Spaces are provided between the sides of the teeth 22 and the sides of the grooves 2l, as illustrated at Fig. 8, so that the rear of the toeV plate may be laterally displaced to the extremity in either direction without causing the teeth 22 to bind or jam in the grooves 2l.

The forward end of the binding plate I'I is turned to form a lip 23 which is adapted to seat against the ski I5. When the toe plates are ad- 30 justed to the desired position the screw 24 is tightened thereby clamping the lip 23 tightly to the ski and the forward ends of the toe plates are clamped in positio-n by the pressure of teeth 22, in grooves 2|. 35

Lateral adjustment of the forward end of the toe plates II is accomplished by loosening the screw 24 and changing the relative engagement of the grooves 2l and the teeth 22.

It is apparent that the lateral adjustment of the rear of the toe plate will not cause clamping plate I6 to ride over the surface of the toe plate as the angular displacement of said toe plate merely causes the grooved end of the plate to longitudinally slide through the teeth 22.

I'he modification as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 operates on the same principle but is slightly different in construction.

The angular displacement of the toe plates I Ia is compensated for by the partial rotation of the eccentrically mounted discs 25a which are journalled in said toe plates. The bearing studs 26a of the eccentrically mounted discs 25a are mounted in one of the recesses of the recessed slots 21a in the binding plate 11a having a lip 23a. 'Ihe operation is apparent.

The modication illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 has two angularly disposed slots 2819 cut in the ends of the toe plates l I b for receiving projecting lugs 29h of the binding plate IIb which is variably positioned longitudinally of the ski by means ofa. clamping piece 3Ulb with sloping corrugated edges and a slot 3Ib, said clamping piece being attached to the ski by means of a screw 32h, this slot, clamping piece and screw being substantially the same in structure and operation as the slot I8, clamping piece I6 and screw 20 in Fig. l.

It will be noted that in all embodiments of this invention each of the toe plates may be adjusted as desired but the entire structure is attached to the ski, and likewise clamped in adjusted position, by but three screws and that the position of no screw has to be changed in making any adjustment so that there need be only three screw holes in the ski and these are so positioned as to minimize the danger of splitting the ski.

While specic forms of this invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the drawings are illustrative only and that the forms illustrated and described may be varied within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. In a ski binding structure, in combination, a pair of toe plates each provided with a transverse slot in the rear portion of the plate, locking means cooperating with said slots and adapted to permit lateral adjustment of the plates and to lock the plates to the ski in adjusted position and a binding plate attached to the ski and engaging the forward ends of the toe plates and having means interengaging with the toe plates for permitting independent longitudinal movement and lateral adjustment of, and for locking against lateral movement, the forward ends of the toe plates.

2. In a ski binding structure, in combination, a pair of toe plates each provided with a transverse slot in the rear portion of the plate, locking means cooperating withY said slots and adapted to permit lateral adjustment of the plates and to lock the plates to the ski in adjusted position and a binding plate attached to the ski and overlapthe forward ends of the toe plates and means on each toe plate for adjustably interengaging the said toe plate with the binding plate independently of the other toe plate.

3. In a ski binding structure, in combination, a pair of toe plates each provided with a transverse slot in the rear portion of the plate, locking means cooperating with said slots and adapted to permit lateral adjustment of the plates and to lock the plates to the ski in adjusted position and a binding plate attached to the ski, means comprising a plurality of teeth and grooves for interengaging the binding plate with the forward end of each toe plate and permitting the longitudinal movement and lateral adjustment of each toe plate relative to the binding plate and independently of the other toe plate.

4. A ski binding having a pair of toe plates, a binding plate attached to the ski and overlapping the forward ends of the toe plates and having laterally, longitudinally and angularly adjustable interconnection with the forward ends of the toe plates whereby to provide a roving center of curvature for the arcuate displacement of the rear part of each toe plate.

5. A ski binding having a pair of toe plates, a binding plate attached to the ski and overlapping the forward ends of the toe plates and having laterally, longitudinally and angularly adjustable interconnection With the forward ends of the toe plates where to provide a roving center of curvature for the arcuate displacement of the rear part of each toe plate and has a laterally adjustable interconnection with each of said toe plates.

6. A ski binding comprising, in combination, a pair of toe plates each provided with a rearwardly positioned transverse slot and a clamping `piece with a single screw for locking said plate to the ski, a binding plate attached to the ski by a single screw, said binding plate having laterally and longitudinally adjustable interconnection with the forward ends of the toe plates, whereby to provide an adjustable ski binding having a thre-point attachment to the ski.

7. -A ski binding comprising, in combination, a pair of toe plates each provided with a rearwardly positioned transverse slot and a clamping piece with a single screw for locking said plate to the ski, a binding plate attached to the ski by a single screw, said binding plate having an adjustble interconnection with the forward f ends of the toe plates including the provision of a roving center of curvature for the arcuate displacement of the rear of each toe plate, whereby to provide an adjustable ski binding having a three-point attachment to the ski.

8. In a ski binding structure, in combination, a. pair of toe plates each provided with a transverse slot in the rear portion of the plate, locking means cooperating with said slots and adapted to permit lateral adjustment of the plates and to lock the plates to the ski in adjusted position and a binding plate attached to the ski, means comprising an eccentric disc, lug and recessed slot for interengaging the binding plate with the forward end of each toe plate and permitting the longitudinal movement and lateral adjustment of each toe plate relative to the binding plate and independently of the other toe plate.

9. In a ski binding structure, in combination, a pair of toe plates each provided with a transverse slot in the rear portion of the plate, locking means cooperating with said slots and adapted to permit lateral adjustment of the plates and to lock the plates to the ski in adjusted position and a binding plate attached to the ski, means comprising angularly disposed slots and lugs for interengaging the binding plate with the forward end of each toe plate and permitting the longitudinal movement and lateral adjustment of each toe plate relative to the binding plate and independently of the other toe plate.

MARCELLUS S. MERRILL. 

